Mali- Improving microbiological food safety in peri-urban Mali; an experimental study
12 March 2011
Food Control [edited] [BITES]
Twenty years ago, a WHO review of the literature assumed that most foodborne disease transmission in developing countries takes place within the home, and advocated a major program of interdisciplinary research to develop and test cost-effective interventions to promote food hygiene. The HACCP approach was applied step by step, to two selected weaning foods prepared by 15 volunteer mothers in peri-urban Mali. After setting Critical Control Points (CCP), actions were taken to control, reduce or eliminate microbial growth at these points. There were 432 food samples collected and examined for coliforms in a local laboratory to assess the effectiveness of the approach. Traditional cooking was very effective in eliminating fecal contamination; reheating was as effective as cooking when adopted, because there was no significant difference in the temperatures reached in both cases. Behavioral corrective actions were effective in controlling fecal contamination at the other CCPs (serving the child after cooking and after reheating). Researchers conclude that the experiment improved significantly the bacterial safety of both weaning foods studied.

Africa- Dust from Africa may increase risk of seafood poisoning
20 Feb. 2011
Telegraph [edited] [BITES]
Researchers have found that harmful bacteria found in seawater flourish in the presence of dust that comes from the Sahara desert in western Africa, as well as other areas of continent. Researchers warn that climate change can cause desert areas to grow so the risk of seafood poisoning could rise around the world. At the same time, rising sea temperatures could further increase the chances of these bacteria occurring in shellfish caught in British waters. Huge quantities of the dust can be carried long distances across the sea by the trade winds. Although much of it is deposited in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean, some reaches northern Europe and the UK. Species of harmful bacteria including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and even cholera showed significant growth spurts two days after African desert dust was added to the water they grew in.

Uganda- Practices, Knowledge and risk factors associated of street food vendors
03 Feb. 2011
Food Control [edited] [BITES]
Street food vendors in Kampala, Jinja and Masaka districts in Uganda were surveyed to assess risk factors, practices and knowledge of street food vendors with respect to food safety and hygiene. A total of 225 street food vendors were investigated from August 2008 and May 2009.

Cameroon- Multiple contaminations of chickens with Campylobacter, Escherichia coli and Salmonella
1 Feb. 2011
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries [edited] [BITES]
Food-borne diseases associated with Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella are mainly caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked poultry meat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella in chickens. One hundred and fifty chickens collected from eight retail markets were examined for the presence of Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella using standard bacteriological procedures. Of the 150 chickens collected, 135 (90%) were contaminated with Campylobacter (68.9% C. coli and 31.1% C. jejuni). All the chickens were positive for E. coli. Among the 150 isolates, 17 (11.3%) were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Additionally, 103 Salmonella strains were recovered from 90 chickens. Salmonella Enteritidis (45.6%) and Salmonella Hadar (28.1%) were the most frequent serotypes. These results show that chickens in Cameroon are highly contaminated with Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. The multiple contaminations of chickens is a potential risk of infection for consumers and highlights the necessity of public awareness for food safety.

Congo- Fight against tapeworm-caused epilepsy intensified
13 Jan. 2011
Alpha Galileo, ITM [edited] [BITES]
The Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp increased its fight in the Congo against the pork tapeworm (which is also a human parasite that causes epilepsy). The ITM scientists received a grant from the Gates Foundation. Humans are infected by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, by eating undercooked pork meat, containing larvae. Problems develop when a human ingests the eggs, through contaminated water or food. In humans, these eggs grow into cysts in the tissues, including the brain, where they can cause severe neurological problems such as epilepsy. The incidence of epilepsy has increased in sub-Saharan Africa as pig keeping and pork consumption have become more widespread in the past decade. A recent study in Tanzania shows that 14% of all epilepsy may be caused by this parasite. Last year, ITM scientists found the pork tapeworm in four Congolese pigs out of ten, a worrying number. Also last year, researchers at ITM showed that pigs can be vaccinated against the tapeworm, so for the first time breaking the cycle. The vaccine is not yet on the market.

Nigeria- Detection of arcobacter in feces of healthy chickens
06 Jan. 2011
Journal of Food Protection [edited] [BITES]
Isolation of arcobacters in foods, with the highest prevalence reported in poultry, has underscored its importance as a potential food safety problem. To estimate its prevalence in live birds, fresh stool samples from healthy chickens were screened by enrichment and plating on Arcobacter selective medium containing cefoperazone, amphotericin B, and teicoplanin. The low prevalence of Arcobacter in the fecal samples of healthy chickens concurs with earlier studies suggesting that Arcobacter appears to be a transient colonizer of poultry intestines and therefore might not be the major source of chicken carcass contamination.